Seattle’s box traffic up 3% in 2003

Seattle’s box traffic up 3% in 2003    Container volume at the port of Seattle rose 3 percent in 2003 to 1.49 million TEUs, with export volumes up 4.5 percent to 748,021 TEUs and import volumes up 2 percent to 738,444 TEUs.
   The strongest growth was in the domestic trade lanes, the port reported. Alaskan container volumes increased 13 percent and Hawaiian volumes were up 14 percent.
   “Those are good, solid numbers and they demonstrate that the investments we’ve made in our trade and transportation infrastructure are paying off,” said Paige Miller, port of Seattle commission chairman.
   The port said it made major capital investments last year. At terminal 46, which serves Hanjin Shipping, the port invested $71 million to increase its size from 70 to 88 acres, construct a new truck gate and terminal buildings, reinforce the pier and add three new container cranes. At terminal 18, serving 15 carriers, the port invested $6 million to add a second truck gate.
   “The investments we’re making support the goal of doubling our container volume to 3 million TEUs in the next 10-15 years,” said    M.R. Dinsmore, port of Seattle chief executive officer.
   Volumes at the port’s grain terminal, leased and operated by Louis Dreyfus, increased 85 percent to 3.1 million metric tons in 2003. Strong overseas markets for corn and soybeans fueled the growth, the port of Seattle said.
   Seattle said it has received more than $39.5 million in federal grants to enhance the security of its facilities and cargo en-route to the port.